Battery-handling attachment for motor-vehicles.



No. 647,475. Patented Apr. I7, 1900.

G. H. coumcr.

BATTERY HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOB MOTOR VEHICLES.

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No. 647,475. Patented Apr. I7, I900.

' G. H. CDNDICT. BATTERY HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' (Application filed Dec. 16, 189B.) (No Model.) 4 Sheats-Sheat 2.

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BATTERY HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOBMOTOR VEHICLES.

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No. 647,475. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

G. H. CONDICT.

BATTERY HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. (Application filed Dec. 18, 1898.)

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GEORGE HERBERT CONDICT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE COLUMBIA AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

BATTERY-HANDLING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 647,475, dated April 1'7, 1900.

Application filed December 16, 1898. Serial No. 699,424. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HERBERT CON- DIOT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of New York,

county and State of NewYork, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Battery Apparatus for Electric-Motor Vehicles,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for raising a IO tray of storage batteries into the desired po sition for use upon a motor car or vehicle and also for loweringa discharged tray therefrom, said means comprising an apparatus, perma nently connected with the vehicle,whereby the I5 heavy trays of batteries used to supply electric currentto such vehicles may be handled that is, placed in operative position or released therefrom-'by apparatus carried upon the vehicle, thereby rendering the same independent ofany battery-handling apparatus external to the vehicle and placing the work within the power and control of an individual.

The invention also comprises some details of construction and arrangement, as willbe hereinafter pointed out, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is aside elevation of the runninggear and part of the body of a motor-vehicle to which the invention is applied. Fig. 2 isa- 0 top plan view of the running-gear,Fig. 1,

without the body. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the battery-tray and connected parts, the

wheels and parts of the running-gear being omitted. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the bat- 3 5 tery-tray and connected parts seen in plan view in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end view of Figs.

2 and 3, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view showing the means for opening 0 and closing the battery-tray-supporting devices. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional view of. one of the inclined contact-plates.

Fig. 9 is a View in elevation similar to and of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional View of the adjusting device for the tension-spring of Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a group of batteries and containing-tray. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of- 5c the battery-tray.

In said drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, A B indicate the front and rear wheels of a 1notor-vehicle, the motor itself being shown in conventional form at A. C is a portion of a body which is supported upon a frame which has longitudinal bars D D and may be supported upon suitable springs (Z d. To this frame or any other which may be preferred are secured transverse bars E E. Arms F F are secured to the transverse bars E E, depending there from on each side of the center of the vehicle. The arms are formed with bearings f f, in which are journaled shafts G G, and upon each of these shafts are winding-drums g g g g", each provided with cords or chains 9, having loops or hooks h at their lower ends.

A worm-shaft H, carrying worm-pinions It 7L2, one at each end, is mounted in bearings formed in suitable yokes I 1, depending from or made integral with the bearings f f. At one end of each of the shafts G G are secured worm-gears t' t", which mesh with and are driven by the worm-pinions 7?. 7L2 upon the shaft 11 when rotary movement is applied to said shaft, which may be in any convenient manner, as by a detachable hand-crank J, which may be fitted to work with a ratchet or be prolonged, as indicated in Fig. 2, to clear the frame of the vehicle.

K is the container or tray, within which a group L of storage batteries for operating the motor-vehicle is arranged. The tray K is usually provided with two or more contactplates M, which are attached to the outer sides of the trayin inclined positions. Hooks Z are secured to the ends of the tray, upon its outside, in position to connect with loops h, attached to the cords g, whereby when the worm-shaft H is turned -the winding-drums upon the shafts G G will wind up said cords o simultaneously and lift the tray of batteries into position under the body of the vehicle.

The tray K, in which the batteries L are contained, is usually a stout wooden box, as indicated, which is reinforced by an angle 5 iron Q, extending around its lower portion and under the bottom thereof. Supportinghooks P are attached to this angle-iron, usually at the sides, and in some instances also it is provided with an additional set of liftin hooks l, also riveted to the angle-iron Q at the ends of the tray. The tray being especially designed to be applied to and removed from the vehicle vertically from below is further provided at its corners with rounded metallic reinforcing-pieces q,which are sloped or beveled inwardly at their upper endsq in order that if the tray should be slightly out of position the said curved portions q of the corner-braces q will guide the tray to the proper points for engagement with the supporting devices. At the same time the corner-braces q greatly increase the strength and durability of the tray, which when filled with its quota of storage batteries frequently weighs several thousand pounds. The tray is furthermore provided with four permanent contact-plates M, which are connected with batteries L in the tray in the desired electrical relationship and as the battery is forced upward into position make contact with four correspondingly-placed contact devices upon the vehicle, which are connected with the working circuit of the propelling motor or motors and controlling apparatus,one of these contacts being shown in Fig. 8.

A casing having sides and ends 0 is attached to the frame of the vehicle, and the tray of batteries is contained and protected inside of it. Within the casing O and attached to the frame of the vehicle are two or m ore inclined spring-pressed contact-plates N, one of which is shown on enlarged scale in Fig. 8. These contact-plates are held outward by spring a, through which passes a fixed bolt on, upon the outer end of which is a sleeve m, which may be adjusted upon the bolt to increase the tension of the spring it against the contact N, as by a hand-wheel m upon the screw-threaded outer end of the bolt m. The spring pressed contact N is loosely held in an opening in a frame or housing N, from which it is insulated by a block of insulating material it at its rear side and smaller blocks 01 at its top and bottom. The contact piece or block N is provided with end lugs a or, which prevent it being forced through the opening in the housing, and to which latter the conductors supplying the motor-circuit can be attached.

As the tray of batteries is hoisted into position the contact-plates M carried thereby will engage and rub against the spring-pressed blocks N, which being free to move under stress of spring n will make a good and ample electrical connection therewith.

Each of the trays K is provided atiLs sides with two or more hooks P, and said tray is furthermore strengthened by a binding of metal Q, which extends all around the sides and also under the bottom edges of the tray, and to this strengthening-plate the hooks P and Z are attached for greater strength and durability. The trays of batteries when in operative position are sustained by latch-plates R, which are arranged one on each side of the interior of the outer casing O. The latchplates may be variously formed, but as indicated comprise upper and lower bars '1' r, united. by vertical strips r r r 4' forming two stiff frames. The upper members a of each latch-plate are pivoted in suitable bearings S S, attached to the cross-bars E, E, and the edges of the lower members r" fit under the hooks P and support the tray of batteries.

In order to admit of the raising and lowering of the tray of batteries by the hoisting apparatus, the latch-plates are thrown out of engagement with the hooks P and held out until required. To this end crank-arms T T are attached, one to each of the front ends of the upper members 0' of the latch-plates B. At a convenient point upon the box 0 or other suitable support is secured a stud U, upon which is rotatably mounted a double eccentric o 12, connected with hand-wheel W. Eccentric-rods V V are pivoted to the outer ends of the crank-arms T T and formed with straps on their inner ends, which engage the eccentrics 'v c. When the hand-wheel WV is turned, the eccentrics will be rotated and the rods V V will be drawn together, drawing the latch plates under the hooks P, as when a fresh tray of batteries has been hoisted into position,and, vice versa, when it is desired to remove a tray of exhausted batteries from the vehicle, the said tray having first been slightly raised by means of the hoisting apparatus to lift the edges of the hooks P above the edges of the lower members of the latch-plates, the handwheel W is turned in the direction to separate the latch-plates, when they will be forced out by the eccentrics and connections from under the hooks P'and be so held by the cocentrics, permitting the lowering of the tray and the insertion of a new one. By again turning the hand-wheel \V the latch-plates will be brought under the hooks P, after which the tray of batteries will be lowered slightly, so as to bring the edges of the hooks P over the edges of the latch-plates, which will then securely hold the tray.

A cap-plate Z may be placed over the upper eccentrics o and be provided with a lug z, projecting laterally, or the lug .2 may be attached to the hand-wheel WV. The lug z is arranged to fit under or abut against a stop or catch t upon eccentric-rod T to permit further movement of the hand-wheel W and connected parts when the latch-plates have been brought thereby into operative position under the hooks P by which the trays of batteries are sustained upon the vehicle.

The inclined contacts N will yield to permit the tray to be raised slightly above its working position to free the latch-plates. When a tray of batteries has been dropped or it is desired to place a fresh tray of batteries upon the vehicle, it can be run into position under the elevating mechanism of the vehicle upon a hand-truck Y, or the vehicle is moved into position over the battery to be raised.

WVhile I have described the location of the various parts of the apparatus in order that the construction shown in the drawings may ing from the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- I 1. The combination with a motor-vehicle and a group of storage batteries for supplying current thereto, of means carried by the vehicle for raising the group of batteries into operative position upon the vehicle, and for lowering the same therefrom, and separate means for locking the batteries in suspended engagement with the vehicle. W s

2. The combination in a motor-vehicle of a body, a downwardly-opening compartment below the floor thereof, and a group of storage batteries for operating the vehicle, of means carried by the vehicle for raisin g or lowering the group of storage batteries thereon.

3. In a motor-vehicle electrically'propelled, the combination of a body, a battery-tray, a downwardlyopening batterycompartment below the floor of the body, electrical contacts on the tray and contacts attached to the ve hicle.

4. In motor-vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, a battery-tray, a downwardly opening batterycompartment below the floor of the body, electric contacts on the interior of the compartment and contacts on the tray registering with those in the compartment.

5. In a motor-vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, a battery-tray, a downwardly opening batterycompartment below the floor of the body, electrical contacts on the interior of the compartment and confacts on the tray registering with those in the compartment, said contacts engaging and etfecting a rubbing contact during the insertion of the battery.

6. In a m otor-vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, a battery-tray, a down wardlyopening batterycompartment below the floor of the body, electrical contacts on the interior of the compartment and contacts on the tray registering with those in the co mpartment,one of each of the engaging contacts being adapted to yield when so engaged.

7. The combination with a motor-vehicle, of a'tray containing storage batteries to operate the same and provided with inwardly inclined fixed con tact-surfaces, of correspondingly-inclined yielding contact-blocks mounted on the vehicle in position to engage the contacts upon the tray when the latter is lifted into position.

8. The combination with a frame orhousin g N having an inclined face and havinga suitable aperture therein, the con tact-block N extending through the aperture in said housing and insulated therefrom, and the adjustable tension-spring or, substantially as described.

9. The combination With a motor-vehicle and a tray of storage batteries foroperating the same, means for raising and lowering a tray of batteries'into position, inclined yielding contacts upon the vehicle and inclined rigid contact-plates corresponding and en gagin g therewith and carried by the battery.

10. In a motor vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, a batterytray, a downwardly-opening battery-compartment, and means upon the tray and devices upon the vehicle adapted to engage the means upon the tray for locking the tray in suspended engagement in the compartment.

11. The combination with a motor-vehicle, a tray of storage batteries for supplying current thereto, said tray being provided with suspending hooks, swinging latch plates adapted to engage said hooks to support the tray in operative position and positive means for moving and holdingsaid latch-plates outward to release the tray or inward into engagement with the hooks, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a motor-vehicle and a tray of storage batteries for supplying current to operate the same, hooks upon the sides of the tray, hoisting apparatus carried by the vehicle and adapted to engage the hooks upon the tray, swinging latch-plates attached to the vehicle and means for separating the latch-plates to release the tray when acted upon by the hoisting apparatus.

13. In a motor vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, axles, a downwardly-open space between said axles, a battery-tray, means for holding said tray in substantially-rigid engagement with said vehicle in saidspace, a casing about said space depending from the vehicle and inclosing said holding means.

14. In a motor vehicle electrically pro pelled, the combination of a body, axles, a

downwardly-open space between said axles, a battery-tray, means for holding said tray in substantially-rigid engagement with said vehicle in said space, contacts for elfecting electrical connections between said battery and said vehicle, a casing about said space depending from the vehicle and inclosin g and protecting said contacts.

15. In a motor vehicle electrically propelled, the combination of a body, axles, a downwardly-open space between said axles, a battery-tray, means for holding said tray in suspension with said vehicle, and contacts on said vehicle and upon the tray, a casing about said space depending from the vehicle and inclosing said holding means and said contacts.

16. A tray for containing battery-jars having fixed contact-plates at its sides, said con tact-plates being placed in an inwardly-inclined position.

17. A tray for containing a group of battery-jars and provided with reinforcing corner-pieces having inwardly-sloping upper ends.

18. In an electric-motor vehicle, a downwardly-open space adapted for the reception of a storage battery, a battery or tray, portions of said tray and of said vehicle adapted 5 to coact in guiding said tray into its position for suspension on the vehicle.

19. In an electric-motor vehicle, a downwardly-open space adapted for the reception of a storage battery, a battery or tray, por- 10 tions of said tray and of said vehicle adapted to coact in guiding said tray into its position for suspension on the vehicle, parts of the vehicle engaging the tray and so positioned as to resist lateral displacement thereof.

Signed by me at New York, N. Y., this 15th 15 day of December, 1898.

GEORGE HERBERT CONDIOT. Nitnesses:

MACK TURK, FRANKLAND J ANNUS; 

